Sunday, April 19, 2015

Each month we will be doing a blog about one of our dealer-merchants from each of our three stores that offers unique, one-of-a-kind antiques and merchandise for your home and garden. We have a lot of creative, savvy and talented dealers and we thought you would enjoy getting to know them! Richard Gay (Dealer Code GAYA) in our Marietta store sells original Audubon bird prints and other artwork including antique oil paintings, furniture, accessories and some china. His booth is located on Ashley Street and he has been dealer with us for the past two years. He first had a booth in our Alpharetta store but decided to concentrate only in our Marietta store, because it is closer to his home.

In addition to selling antiques, Richard can do appraisals and authentication of John J. Audubon Birds of Americas prints. His favorite antique piece in his home is a burly walnut Secretary with glass top bookcase and his private collection of Audubon and other historical noted bird print artists prints. Richard is currently single and has three grandchildren. He has been a collector of antiques and artwork for over 50 years. He entered the antique business after selling his executive “headhunting” search business after 35 years. Prior to that he was a Corporate Human Resources Director for various industries. After a brief stint as an interior design consultant, he decided to focus on selling antiques and artwork from his private collection and other acquisitions in 2002 and has sold in a number of antique galleries, malls and weekend shows at Scott’s, Lakewood, etc.

Richard is always bringing new merchandise into the Queen and enjoys meeting and talking with our customers. Be sure to look for him on Ashley Street.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Each month we will be doing a blog about one of our dealer-merchants from each of our three stores that offers unique, one-of-a-kind antiques and merchandise for your home and garden. We have a lot of creative, savvy and talented dealers and we thought you would enjoy getting to know them!

Linda Howard (Dealer Code CCA) of Chic Country Atlanta is located on King and Queen Street in our Alpharetta store. She specializes in handpicked artwork, interesting "new country" look with special antique pieces, rugs and accessories, and seasonal decorations for your farmhouse, whether contemporary or country. She also offers redesign services for your home.Linda has been a dealer-merchant at the Queen of Hearts for three years and loves her customers and enjoys talking to them and helping them with some of their ideas. Her favorite items to sell are oil paintings, antique and vintage furniture, interesting rugs, seasonal decorations, and decorative smalls to enhance the "New Country Look."One of the favorite things in her home is her Queen Headboard, which is just a vintage iron gate positioned sideways. Another favorite item is a cool Pie Safe which is all original with some hints of red and blue showing through the natural wood. She also has a wall of oil paintings she has collected that reminds her of her travels and gives her a lot of pleasure. She especially loves the New Country trends, which are cleaner and less cluttered than years gone by. Even Christmas/Holiday decorations are in the “less is more” design.

Besides her love for collecting antiques and interior decorating, she loves cooking and entertaining, as well as traveling, which has included many trips to St. Croix, as well as Africa and Italy. She also enjoys teaching piano as a hobby now, although at one time was her full time job for over 30 years. Linda has been married for 48 years, and has two grown girls and two wonderful son in laws, three grandchildren who are girls, and one grandson in law. Linda grew up in Connecticut, lived in Florida for 15 years and moved to Georgia in 1996.

Linda and her husband can usually be found at our many Late Night events along with their dog, Angel. You can find more of her great merchandise on her Facebook page at ChicCountryAtlanta.